Juyan Valley (4)

"Mo Ziyan, you asshole!" Qiu Nuo scolded angrily as she looked at the direction the black hawk flew toward.

This man lacking conscience actually left her alone and ran away. She was surrounded by spirit beasts everywhere!

Thankfully, this old tree was sturdy enough. Even though the beasts on the ground were knocking themselves against it, it only shook slightly.

"Oh, right. Xue Ling, I asked you to check on Juyan Valley back then. How's it going?" Qiu Nuo leaned against the tree branch and suddenly asked.

"I was about to tell you. There might be a summoning beast suitable for you in Juyan Valley. I advise you to make a trip there." Xue Ling's figure gradually condensed in the air, forming a human silhouette the size of two palms.

She was wearing a long blue dress today. Her long, snow-white hair was tied into a ponytail. There was a feather hair clip pinned to the side of her head. A trace of naughtiness was mixed with cuteness, and she looked like an elf in the moonlight.

"What situation is this? Tell me clearly." Qiu Nuo raised her eyebrows slightly.

Initially, she thought that Mo Ziyan went to Juyan Valley because of his personal matters. However, a lot of abnormalities happened along the way. No matter if it was the Lin family or the Qiu family, almost all the outstanding children were dispatched. Also, those noble students from the imperial capital and the Lone Wolf mercenaries whom they had encountered previously all seemed to be related to Juyan Valley.

Although a few adventurers appeared in Ziying Mountain from time to time, it seemed a little unusual to have encountered several groups at such a high frequency.

Xue Ling flew to the tree branch opposite Qiu Nuo and sat down. She said slowly, "Juyan Valley is also known as the Flame Valley. This name became widespread only about ten years ago. Initially, Juyan Valley was a place to produce medicinal herbs inside Ziying Mountain. However, for some unknown reason, it became a blazing hot place in just a few months. All the plants that grew in the valley died. Only an unknown big Flame Tree continued to grow in the middle of the valley. That big Flame Tree would bear three fruits every year. People call them the Chiyan Fruit. Consuming them benefits practitioners greatly. I'm not exactly sure what benefits they are as well. I only know those people rushing toward Juyan Valley for the past few days are basically aiming for the Chiyan Fruit!"

"What's with the summoning beast, then?" Qiu Nuo asked, puzzled.

It was easy to understand people being attracted to rare treasures. However, where should they start with the summoning beast that was suitable for her?

Based on what Xue Ling said just now, if ordinary plants couldn't survive in Juyan Valley, then most of the spirit beasts shouldn't be able to survive in it as well.

Unless… it was a spirit beast with a fire attribute!

"It's a mutated spirit beast with a fire attribute!" Xue Ling's words confirmed Qiu Nuo's thoughts. "This mutated spirit beast is quite extraordinary. I suspect that it is responsible for Juyan Valley's current condition!"

"No way!" Qiu Nuo was shocked. "Such a formidable spirit beast. Are you sure I can summon it?"

From that book of summoning scriptures, Qiu Nuo knew that there were four levels of spirit beasts.

The first level was ordinary spirit beasts which were commonly seen. The second level was soul beasts which had activated their spiritual intelligence. The third level was holy beasts which were extremely talented. The fourth level was the legendary mythical beasts.

A spirit beast that could transform Juyan Valley this way would have to be a soul beast or even a holy beast!

She was just a Level One Soul Master who had just been promoted. How would those Level Two or Level Three spirit beasts with an arrogant nature be willing to sign a contract with her?

"You won't know unless you try. Also, did you think the Book of Summoning Scriptures by my former master was just for show? Based on my former master's Formation of Contract, he could contract even mythical beasts. I don't believe any spirit beast would be able to escape from his Formation of Contract!" When talking about that person, Xue Ling's face was immediately filled with pride.

Although Qiu Nuo was already her master in name, she was still calling Qiu Nuo by her name.

That was because, in her opinion, no matter how talented Qiu Nuo was, she was still far behind when compared with her former master's achievements.

Want her to correct herself? Unless Qiu Nuo's abilities could reach one-tenth of her former master's.

"Alright. Even if I have the chance to contract that spirit beast from Juyan Valley, we can't get there now!" Qiu Nuo lowered her head and looked at the beasts rushing toward the tree. She looked helpless.

"There's still two days before the Chiyan Fruit matures. By then, that spirit beast would definitely think of ways to pick the Chiyan Fruit. We just have to reach there before that happens." Xue Ling looked past the leaves and stared far ahead. "As for the migrating beasts, before they disperse, you should stay in my inner body space! I'm afraid it won't be safe here anymore…"

Of course, Qiu Nuo understood what Xue Ling meant. "You're saying there will be migrating beasts formed by flying spirit beasts later?"

Xue Ling nodded. "At most fifteen minutes later, the spirit beast group formed by Blood-sucking Bats and Decomposing Crows will reach the sky. By then, those people from the Lone Wolf mercenaries will be dead!"

Qiu Nuo's face became faintly pale.

That was to say, if not for Xue Ling's inner body space, she would have lost her life in this tide of migrating beasts.

And that person who brought her into the mountain and promised to protect her well had left her behind.

Upon thinking about this, Qiu Nuo felt a little bitter. She couldn't describe what she was feeling.

…

Before dawn, the migrating beasts gradually dispersed.

What was left was the faint smell of blood in the air and the rare quietness before dawn.

"Master, we've already searched all over here. We didn't find traces of that girl."

Mo Ziyan stood rooted to the ground, not moving one bit.

His hair was a little messy, and his eyes were bloodshot. His long robe, which had always been spotless, now had a few scratch marks.

"Gather all the people here. We must find her at all costs!" Mo Ziyan's tone was light but revealed unprecedented firmness.

The man in black who had been kneeling one knee on the ground suddenly looked up. His face was filled with disbelief. "Master, the Chiyan Fruit's about to mature. We don't have enough manpower, to begin with. If we get all of them here, Miss Shiqi…"

Mo Ziyan looked at him plainly. "I never repeat myself."

The man in black was silent for a while. Then, he nodded and responded, "Yes!"